| abstract | - Hunter attacks the Echidnas of the Hidden Palace Zone with his Chaos Spear and a remote controlled spring, brushing off Dr. Eggman's order to retrieve the Master Emerald. Meanwhile, in the ruins of Dingo City, Sonic celebrates their victory over Kage Von Stryker and his Dingo Army. Locke suggests that they intercept Eggman's lackey before he can grab the Master Emerald while Lien-Da complains that they wouldn't be in this situation if they hadn't wasted their time and resources trying to rescue him. Sonic assures them he'll make it back to the emerald in time. Locke suggests that Sonic should take Knuckles with him. Knuckles doubts that he would be very useful without his powers, but Locke reassures him that he can always lend his friends a hand. Meanwhile, Hunter's Chaos Spear pierces the Hidden Palace. Archimedes appears and urges Remington, Wynmacher, Lara-Le, Kneecaps, Dr. Finitevus and Saffron to head to the Master Emerald Shrine. While the others flee, Remington and Finitevus are determined to face their attacker and refuse to follow the fire ant's orders, respectively. Archimedes squabbles with Finitevus, explaining that he was charged by Locke to monitor the emerald while it was in the Dark Legion's possession, when Hunter enters the room. Remington tries to rush him, but is zapped by the Chaos Spear. Remington disappears and Hunter prepares to take down Finitevus, who gives a malicious smile. Archimedes appears at the shrine, woefully informing the others that Remington and Finitevus refused to heed his warning. Saffron resolves to keep the Master Emerald safe when Hunter appears behind them. Before he can strike, Sonic and Knuckles arrive and provoke him. Hunter attacks, launching his Chaos Spear at the duo and keeping Sonic preoccupied by blocking his path with the remote controlled spring. Knuckles prepares to counterattack, but falls to the ground in agony. Meanwhile, the Chaotix, Locke, Harry, Lien-Da and the Dark Legion make it back to the Hidden Palace Zone via Warp Ring only to discover the destruction left in Hunter's wake. Kage and the Dingo Army arrive right behind them, having followed in their own Warp Rings. Lien-Da blames Locke for their problems, saying that he forced the Master Emerald on the Legion and put them all at risk. Julie-Su furiously retorts that Lien-Da took the emerald of her own free will, only thinking about the power it would give her without considering the consequences of her actions. Seething with anger, Julie tells her to stop whining and accept the responsibility of being a leader. Lien-Da starts to tear up when Vector tries to cool Julie-Su down, directing her attention to the hostile dingoes. Julie, frustrated, wonders aloud that she doesn't understand what Lien-Da's problem is. As the Chaotix walk away, Lien-Da quietly sneers that their father always preferred Julie. Charmy, Julie-Su, and Locke head to the palace to reunite with Knuckles and Saffron. At the Master Emerald Shrine, Hunter grabs his spear and prepares to land the finishing blow on Knuckles. Suddenly, the Master Emerald glows brightly and Knuckles is enveloped with energy, transforming into Super Knuckles. With his new power Knuckles snaps Hunter's spear in half, grabs him, erupts from the palace at blinding speed, and throws him off of Angel Island into the ocean below. Hunter's spring loses power, the dingoes flee in fear, and Lien-Da finds her entire Legion ignoring their orders, bowing to their Avatar. Knuckles returns to normal and, realizing that his Chaos powers have returned, asks Locke and Archimedes what happened. They explain that his powers never left, they had just been dormant inside of him and the Master Emerald helped release them. Dr. Eggman broadcasts a holographic transmission, telling the heroes that he plans to send an army of Egg Pawns to retrieve the Master Emerald. Knuckles and Locke decide they need to find a new hiding place for the emerald. When Knuckles asks where Remmington is, Acrhimedes tells him that Hunter banished him, much to Knuckles' dismay. Lien-Da tells him that they have no time to mourn for friends or family. The Dark Legion transports the Master Emerald to a safe place while Knuckles says goodbye to Locke. Their transport arrives and Sonic and the Chaotix prepare to leave the island. Knuckles explains that he promised Princess Sally to return to Knothole as soon as Locke was rescued. Locke protests that he has duties as the Guardian, but Knuckles has decided that Eggman has become a threat to all of Mobius and needs to be defeated to ensure the safety of Angel Island. Locke believes that Knuckles is turning his back on his home and leaves in a huff. Knuckles shares a heartfelt goodbye with Lara-Le before leaving. At New Megaopolis, Dr. Eggman celebrates the spoils of his battle: all of the Mobians hunter attacked with his spear have been teleported to New Megaopolis to fuel his personal power supply, the Egg Grapes.
|
